I’m back! Where did I go? Nowhere really…

To those of you who eagerly await my weekly updates filled with mind-blowing and awe-inspiring stories (why do I sense silence?), I say sorry. My apology takes the form of another Nobel prize-winning post (cough).

Yesterday was the deadline for our Finance and Financial Management coursework. As part of the Mech Eng degree, I am obliged to take at least one business/humanities course. I decided on FFM because it seemed quite mathematical compared to the other more wafflely subjects.

I completely underestimated it.

FFM is weird and wacky, but the good thing is we have a great, experienced lecturer who has come straight from industry. Although I must admit that learning FFM sometimes feels very similar to learning a new language. E.g. today the lecturer was going over an example:

‘If you are short a put option on a certain stock with an exercise price of $20 that expires today, what is your pay-off at expiration as a function of the stock price?’

I mean, the individual words are undoubtedly English, but together they seem like some secret unbreakable code aliens have spent decades perfecting. I guess I have plenty of studying to do over the easter holidays…

I also got some good news this week. Apparently I’ve been accepted to work on a project at a highly-regarded nuclear research institute in Mol, Belgium. Basically I’ll be modelling heat transfers, and if I come up with a successful program I might even be able to publish a paper that goes into journals! Exciting stuff, and an excellent opportunity I believe. I’ve visited the place before, and its really quite serene with its large grounds and grass and trees and canals. You may find this slightly counter-intuitive, considering it is a nuclear institute we are talking about (I mean, there’s waste radioactive Plutonium in there), but there you go.

Also, I’m going to India this Summer! I’m eagerly anticipating the family, trips, sightseeing and of course the food. It’s hard to say just how much I’m looking forward to it, as I haven’t been in three years or so.

And of course, I’m going to the States to get ready for my exchange year – term starts on the 19th of August. I’d like to go a couple of weeks earlier to sort things out, and have a nice holiday. This summer is going to be one fun, chaotic mess, provided the exams and DMT project go well (Even though it doesn’t seem like it now, they will end one day).

Only one tiny problem.

All my summer plans happen to overlap! So either I choose one thing and perform/enjoy it completely (and relinquish the other two) or do a little bit of all three. If only all my decisions could be this pleasant.

I think you all can guess what I am referring to.

The X word.

We finally received our exam schedules, after weeks of general headless chicken running around. I’m the sort of person who timetables everything, so a concrete schedule for the exams is very helpful in terms of planning. Still, turns out that all my heavy reading exams are in same week – not sure how I’ll deal with that.

On a lighter note, I got a new mobile phone! It’s a BlackBerry Curve, and its slick and white. I liked my old Sony Ericsson flip phone (once upon a time those things were all the rage), but I guess its time for a change. The biggest shock for me is that I can actually text properly. With my old phone I used to txt lyk dis cos it was fster, n 2 save space, but now I can type full words! And the best thing is my thumb doesn’t spasm anymore…

Connecting to the Imperial Wi-Fi was a bit of a pain, but with the help of Tanya, Andrew and Anas’ Blog it all worked out

The other fun thing was that the WSET We.Are.Science Photo Exhibition launch took place today! If you’ve been to the Imperial Homepage, you will have seen some of the awesome entries we got. This big event was professionally organized by Ivy and Mithila, and of course Aiman (they are WSET committee members). I think my favourite photos were:

1. Women scientific leaders – Don’t worry this is not a feminist thing lol. I just thought the model was amazing and full of attitude (and a lab coat).

2. Drawing a bat wing – A brown and white photo depicting team work. Only the hands are featured.

3. I love electrochemistry! – A very fun and cute picture.

4. The pigeon – Wait, what? Yes, apparently someone submitted a stunningly professional photo of a pigeon. Not sure what that is supposed to signify, but it was very fat and fluffy. Hmm.

Which one is your favourite? Don’t forget to vote! The ballot is located in the Business School all week.

That’s all for now!